Bottle-filling apparatus.



F. L. SHELOE-4 BOTTLE FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLlcAnoN FILED FEB.2,1916.

muted July s, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I?. L` sHELoR.

BOTTLE FILLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB.2,1916.

Patented July 3, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Attorneys FREDERICK LYNN SHELOR, OF SALEM, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR T INTERNATIONAL FILLER CORPORATION, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

BOTTLE-FILLING APPARATUS.

` To all 'whom t may concern."

Be it, known ythat I, FREDERICK LYNN SHELOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful- Bottle-Filling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present'invention appertains tobottle filling apparatus, and aims to provide a novel and improved bottle illin apparatus' which has a wide range of use, t e same being adapted for use in connection with various liquids, and upon various bottles and` similar vessels, and the component parts being readily disassembledv for purpose of l cleaning, repair or replacement.

It is the object of the invention to provide "ja bottle Vfilling apparatus which can be conuid into the bottle and for withdrawing the veniently manipulated or applied to and removed from the bottles, and whichhas. a novel nozzle structure for injecting the liqair therefrom.

Another object of the invention is thel provision of a bottle filling apparatus having a.

plurality of nozzle structures, whereby a plurality of bottles can be filled simultaneously, and said structures being adjustable relative to one-another in order to accommodate the bottles `when they are spaced different distances apart.

y It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a bottle filling apparatus wherein the component parts are assembledin a novel and eilicacious manner, to enhance the utility and efficiency of the apparatus.

With the foregoing and other objects in l view which will appear as the description parting from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accomp panying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus, portions being shown in section, some in elevation, and others being broken away, thedevice ,which is applied to the bottles being 'shownin section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail 0n the line 2-2 of Fig.=1.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patentes .my e, ieir.

Application' mea February 2, 191s. serial No. 75,797.

Fig. .3.is. a bottom plan view of .the device which is applied to thebottles.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of said device. .f

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the reversing valve.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of the nozzle structure.

In'carryingout the invention, there is provided apair of nozzle structures, valthough one or more than two can be used, and as far as the details of the nozzle structure is concerned, they have no particular bearing upon the use of a plurality ofnozzle structures, and it will suiice to consider one of saidlstructures in detail only. Each ofv'said nozzle structures embodies a head 1 having a vertical bore or chamber 2 therein and a r nipple or port 3 at the upper end of said chamber and of smaller diameter, there being a tapered'or conical seat 4 at the basal end of the nipple 3. rlhe head 1 is provided at one side with an opening or port 5 coinmiinicating with the chamber 2, and the lower end offthe head has a counter bore 6 surrounding the lower end of the chamber 2. A depending nozzle 7 is provided with an enlarged upper end 8 threaded within the counter bore 6, and a vertical nozzle 9 of" smaller diameter than the nozzle'7 extends axiallythrcugh said nozzle, the lower end of the nozzle 9 project-ing from the outer nozzle 7 The upper end of the inner nozzle 9 projects above the upper end of the nozzle 7 within the chamber 2, and is provided with an enlarged tapered or conical portion 10 seated tightly within the seat 4, to provide a fluid tight joint, and whereby the nozzle 9 communicates with the nipple or port 3. The nozzle 7 communicates with the chambei' 2 and its port 5, and the nozzle 9 is provided within the nozzle 7 with longitudinal radial ribs 11 contacting with the nozzle 7, to hold the two nozzles concentric, and the upper ends of the ribs 11 have shoulders`12 seating upon the upper end of the nozzle 7, v

whereby when the nozzle 7 is threaded home, it will raise the nozzle 9 and seat the upper end thereof tightly within the seat 4:. The

nozzle 9 is lthus supported by the .nozzle 7, and the lower ends of the ribs 11 project out of the nozzle 7 and extend to the enlarged tapered or frusto-conical lower rotruding end 12 of the inner nozzle. 4packing washer 13 is fitted upon the nozzle 7 and 110 rests a ainst the lower end of the 1, in.

order t at when the nozzles 7-9 are inserted intothe neck of a bottle B, the `washer or gasket 13 will seat upon the upper end ofthe neck, to provide a'tight seal, thereby closmg the mouth of the bottle tothe atmosphere.

A horizontal tube or pipe 14 has one end' threadedly or otherwise engaged within the port to communicate with the chamber 2,

and an elbow 15 is engaged upon the nip le 3, and has connected thereto one en'd o a horizontal tube or pipe 16 disposed above` and parallel with the -plpe 14. The elbow 15 has removable plugs 17, which when they are removed enable the corresponding'parts to be cleaned out by inserting a' brush'or other suitable implement.

There are two pipes 16l and two pipes 14 for the two nozzle structures, and said pipes extend rearwardly from said structures, and are provided at their rear ends with balls 18 seated in the sockets 19 in the ends of the diverging branches 20 of upper vand lower4 yY-shaped couplings 21 and 22, respectively.

Nuts 23 surrounding the balls 18 are threade ed upon the ends of the branches 20, for

loosened, said head can be ad] holding the balls 18 seated, land packing rings 24 are disposed within the nuts 23 and embrace vthe balls 18 forproviding fluid tight joints, to prevent leakage. The ball and socket connections between the pipes and couplings enable the two nozzle structures Ato be moved toward and away from one another. f l l As a means for manipulating the nozzle structures, a stay bolt 25 is engaged with the crotch portions of the couplings 21 and 22, andalso secures in place upon the uppercoupling v21, the doubled strap 26 `which is attached to the rear endof an upper longitudinal handle 27. The forward end of said vhandle is secured to a vertical transverse plate 28, and one of the heads 1 is secured rigidly, as at 29, to the rear side of said plate. A screw 30 vis threaded into the forward side of the'other head 1 and works within a horizontal slot 31 with which the plate 28 is provided, whereby ythe last mentioned head can be adjusted transversely to and from the aforesaid heads,' toi-space.` the When theli-f;v4 screw 30 is tightened, the shiftable head' 1 l nozzles different distances apart."4

is clamped in place, and when the screw isv 'usted transversely. y,

As a lconvenient means for shifting the movable head 1, a ylink 32 has one end engaging the screw 30 between the head-thereof and the plate 28, to act as a washer, and its other end is pivoted to the upwardly proj ecting arm 33 of a lever which is fulcrumed, as at 34, through the plate 28, and which has a second upwardly projecting arm v35 in rear of said plate 28. The arm 35'is in such a position that when the handle 27 is grasped n 'tfeanwwA bythe'hand, .the thumb or index finger can be used for swinging the arm 35, to adjust the movable head' 1,' as the device is applied to the bottles, whereby'the nozzles can properly enter the bottle necks. When the lever 33-35 *is moved'inone direction it moves the heads 1 away from one another, and when the lever is reversed, vtheheads are moved closer together. This provides convenient means lfor adjusting the nozzles as .they are applied to the bottles.

- Attached to the couplings 21 and 22 is a reversmg or four-way valve, embodying a casing or body 36 having a pair of nipples -37-38at'one end connected to the respectlve couplings 21 and 22, and having a pair nipples 37, 38, 39 and 4() to the bore 41, the

passages 44 and 46 being in alinement, and the passages 43 and 45 also being in alinement. 44-46 are disposed in spaced 4planes adjacent the bore 41, as seen in Fig. 5, and the spigot 42 is provided with a pair of diametrical passages 47 and 48 arranged in spaced planes and also arranged in crossed relation. The passage 47 is adapted to register with the passages 44 and 46, when the passage 48'reg1sters with the passages 43 and 45. The spigot 42 is provided upon its periphery with opposite oblique grooves or` channels 49 and 50, in order that when the passages 47 and 48 are moved out of regisi tration with the passages with which they communicate, the channels 49 and 50 will reverse the iow of fluid. Thus, the channel 49 is adapted to communicate with the passages 45 and 44, when the channel 50 establishes communication between the passages 43 andI 46. Thus, when the spigot 42 is in one position, the passages 43 and 45 are in communication and the passages 44 and 46 p Aare. in communication, and whenthe valve is rotated to the'other position, the passages 44 and 45and the passages 43 and 46 are in communication.v This provides conven- This The alining passages 43-45 and ient and simple'neans for reversing the flow of the fluid to vand. from the nozzles.

Connected to the ynipple 39 to communicate with the passage 45, is a hose 51 which communicates with a tank containing the liquid with which the bottles are to' be illed, and said tank is preferably disposed at a lower level, whereby the liquid must be raised in passing to the nozzles. A hose or which is sucked from the nozz es by the air` suction.

As a means for preventing the liquid from being sucked from the fiar 54 into the pump should the jar become lled with liquid, a vertical tube 56 is engaged through the cover 53 and has its upper end closed, and said tube is provided above the cover 53 With a lateral opening 57 normally closed by a sleeve valve 58 slidable upon the tube 56. A; stem 59 has its upper end secured to the valve 58 through the opening 57, and has attached to its lower end within the jar 54 a float 60 of any suitable sort. a

Should the jar 54 become filled with the liquid, up to a level in which'the float is disposed, the ioat will be raised by the lliquid, and this upward movementof the ioat will be transmitted by the rod or stem 59 to the valve 58, so that said valve will be raised. This will uncover the openingr57, and permit air to How into the jar 54 om the atmosphere, and the air suction created by the pump connected to the pipe 55 will be relieved by the air flowing into said jar, and) the air suction will therefore not extend through the tube or hose 52, which will check the further operation of the apparatus, until the jarI 54 is emptied.

In operation, supposingl the spigot or valve42 to be disposed as illustrated in Fig.

' 1, so that the hose 52 is in communication communication with ythe pipes 16, the airA 1 suction will extend intok said pipes 14, and as with the pipes 14, while the hose 51v is in fromthence into the chambers 2 of the two heads 1. The air suction will therefore extend through the outer nozzles 7 thereby withdrawing the air from the bottles, tendyeo ing to create vacuums within the bottles, and the suction will therefore extend through the inner nozzles 9 into the pipes 16'and hose 51. As a result, the liquid will be sucked from its tank or reservoir, and will flow through the hose 51 into the pipesl and from there downwardly through the nozzles 9 into the bottles centrally thereof. .y In this manner, the air in being sucked from the bottles, will draw the liquid thereinto, it being kept in mind that the washers or gaskets 13 seal the spaces between the heads 1 and necks of the bottles. As soon asthe liquid within the bottles rises to a level in which the lower ends of the nozzles '7 are disposed, air can no longer be sucked from the bottles, which prevents the further fillpartlal vacuum within the bottle, so that no ingof the bottles, andthe liqiiidwill then -I be sucked into the pipes v14 and hose' 52,

being caught by the jar 5ft/if the How is continued too long. Thus, byproviding nozzles of di'erent lengths, bottles are lled can be controlled, since theA bottles will notb be illedat a level appreciably above the lower ends ofthe nozzles 7 when said nozzles are used as the Vair, suction nozzles. When the liquid flows from the 75 nozzles 9 it passes. downwardly` centrally within thel bottles-andthe air passes upwardly adjacent the sides of the bottle and f neck in passing to the annular space ybetween, the two nozzles. f

With foamy liquids, it is preferable to discharge the liquid from the nozzle 7 into thebottle, and touse the inner nozzle 9 as the air suction nozzle. This is accomplished by reversing the valve 42 so that the 35 liquid supply hose 51 will now communicate with the pipes 14, while the air suction hose 52 will communicate with the pipes 16. Air will now'be sucked from the "bottle by way of the'nozzle 9,v and the liquid will therefore flow into the bottlev from the nozzle 7. The liquid in flowing from the nozzle 7 will be spread or deiiected by the end 12 of the nozzle 9 so as to spray against the side walls of the body or'neckvof the bottle, whichever is the case, and the liquid will run down the sides of the bottle, thus avoiding the splashing which joccurs when the liquid flows into the bottle from the central nozzle, and consequently the foaming of the liquid is reduced to a minimum. By operating the spigot or valve 42, the flow of air and liquid can be reversed instantly, without changing any of the hose connections. y y

As soon as the nozzles are lifted from the bottles, it is evident.V that even if the air suction is continued, the air suction nozzleswill suck the'air from the atmosphere, thus preventing the further discharge of the liquid instantly, but as soon as the nozzles are appliedY to the new bottles, the liow lof liquid vis started immediately, thus eliminating the use of valves or other devices for this purpose. l

f important advantage of the present y apparatus, is the fact that should the Same be applied to a broken bottle, air will bead# mitted through the fracture ofthe bottle, thereby preventing the establishment of a liquid will flow' into'the bottle: This pre-y vents .the waste of liquid. Another advantage of the nozzle structure is the fact that the foaming ofthe liquid is reduced to a minimum and the surplus foam is sucked off with the air and is caught within the trap or jar 54,. the bottle thereby being rid of foam. The nozzle structure can be used conveniently with bottles any size and number seated on a table, tray or other support. 13a

the amount that the 7'@ its The resent device can also be used in connection with various liquids, not requiring a separate apparatus for each liquid, and the nozzle devices can be applied to different styles and sizes of bottles from the smallest to the largest. No valvesneed be operated for controlling the flow of liquid into the bottles, thereby saving time and trouble, and the tank or vessel containing the liquid can be seated on the floor, and need not be ralsed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as newy is:

1. A filling4 apparatus embodying Ia pair of" concentric nozzles, air suction and liquid supplying conductors, and means establishing communication between said nozzles and conductors and having reversing meansthereby to connect 4the air suction conductor with either nozzle and the liquid supplylng conductor with the other nozzle.

2. A filling apparatus embodying a 'pair of concentric nozzles, the :inner nozzle protruding from the outer one iand havin-gL means at its protruding end for spreading a liquid discharge from the outer'nozzle, air suction and liquid supplying conductors, and IJrneans connecting said nozzles and conductors and including a reversing valve whereby either of the nozzles can be connected to the air suction conductor while the other nozzle is` connected to the liquid supplying conductor. 4

3. A filling apparatus embodying a nozzle structure applicable to a vessel, liquid supplying means connected to said structure, an air suction conduit connected to said structure, a vessel interposed in said conduit for l catching any liquid sucked vinto said conduit, means for admitting airv from the atmosphere into said conduit, and a fioat in the.

last mentioned vessel for operating the last mentioned means when said vessel becomes filled with liquid.

4. A illing apparatus embodying a. head having a chamber and a seat, an outer nozzle attached to the head to communicate with said chamber, and an inner nozzle extending through the outer nozzle, the outer nozzle holding the inner nozzle in place with one end against said seat, the head having ports communicating with said end of the second mentioned nozzle and with said chamber.

5. A filling apparatus embodying a head having a chamber, a lateral port communieating with said chamber, a portl at one end of said chamber, and a tapered seat adjacent the second mentioned port, an outer nozzle threadedly engaged with the head at the other end of said chamber, and an inner nozzle projecting through the outer nozzle and having one end provided with a tapered portion itted in said seat, the inner nozzle having longitudinal ribs contacting with the outer nozzle to hold the nozzles concentric, and said ribs having shoulders engaging the threaded portion of the outer nozzle to hold the inner nozzle in lace.

6. A filling apparatus embo ying a pair of nozzles to project into a vessel, means for lsealing the vessel,- liquid supplying 'means connected to one nozzle, andV air suction means connected to the other nozzle and having means for catching any liquid suckedv thereinto, and means for admitting air from the atmosphere to the catching means when the catching means become filled with liquid.

7. A hand operated filling apparatus embodying heads movable to and from one another and having depending entering nozzles, a handle for manipulating said heads, and means for moving said heads toward and away fromV one another and operable by a hand grasping said handle.

8. A hand operated filling apparatus embodying a plate, a. handle attached to said plate for manipulating it, a pair of heads carried by the plate and having depending entering nozzles, one of the heads being movable toward and away from the other, and

means carried by said plate connected to the movable head., and operable by a hand grasping said handle for moving said head.

head, said heads having depending bottle en` tering nozzles, .a lever carried by the plate and adapted to be operated by a hand graspingv said handle, and a linkconnecting said lever and screw. v l

10. A filling apparatus embodying a pair of laterally spaced heads having depending concentric nozzles, vertically spaced horizontal pipes connected to each head to communi'cate with the nozzles, and a pair of vertically spaced Y-shaped couplings, the up er and lower pipes having ball and soc et jointswith the branches of said upper and lowerv couplings, respectively.

` In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my. own, I have hereto'aixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK-LYNN SHELOR.

Witnesses:

JN0. T. Bruins, B. P. SrmLoR. 

